Cap. 191 Art. 2Interpretation.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

"consular officer" means any person appointed as consul-general, consul, vice-consul or consular agent by a foreign State and holding a valid exequatur or other authorization to act in Malta in that capacity; "consular employee" means any person, other than a consular officer, employed in the administrative or technical service of a consular post;

"consular post" means any consulate-general, consulate, vice-consulate or consular agency;

"Malta" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution of Malta;

"members of a consular post" means consular officers, consular employees and persons employed in the domestic service of a consular post; "the Minister" means the Minister for the time being responsible for external affairs.

(2) References in this Act to "consular officer", "consular employees" and "members of a consular post" shall be construed as including references to persons in the service of any Commonwealth country other than Malta holding such offices or classes of offices as may be specified by the Minister by notice in the Government Gazette being offices or classes of offices appearing to the Minister to involve the performance of duties substantially corresponding to those which, in the case of a foreign State, would be performed by consular officers, consular employees and members of a consular post respectively and references to "consular post" shall be construed accordingly.

(3) The Minister may compile a list of Commonwealth countries for the purposes of this Act and shall cause such list and any amendment of such list or amended list to be published by notice in the Government Gazette.